Sunday, May 22, 2011

Celebrunner: Datuk David Arumugam (Alleycats) @ Walk-A-Payung 2011

Check out who we bumped into at charity event Walk-A-Payung for World Lupus Day 2011. It's the famous singer Datuk David Arumugam of the band Alleycats! He joined hundreds of walkers present this morning at Dataran Petaling for a three km walk.

We heard that Datuk David Arumugam is walking for his friend's sister who is currently in a coma due to Lupus. What a wonderful guy!

The Walk-a-payung event is organised by thePesatuan SLE Malaysia (PSLEM); aimed to increase awareness and raise fund for lupus sufferers in Malaysia.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or in short, lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue.

This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.

Each year over a hundred thousand people are diagnosed with lupus worldwide. Even though it is not as well-known as cancer and diabetes, it doesn't mean that is less devastating. It is very tough to diagnosed and may take months and even years for doctors to identify lupus correctly.

The two hosts for Walk-A-Payung.

The walk is fourth in its series. This year it is officiated by YB Datuk Rosnah Shirlin, the Deputy Health Minister Malaysia. (The one with Man-U T-shirt. LOL!)

It rained this morning. But everyone got their umbrella ready already! :D

Ready to go....

According to the association President, Associate Prof Dr. Esha Das Gupta, this year the fund raised will be used to help needy SLE patients to pay for joints replacements and cataract operations, body parts that become damaged with the long term use of steroids that are used to manage lupus.

Wow! Check out the umbrellas! (Insert applause to the supporters and volunteers for Walk-A-Payung here)

Walkers making their way back to Dataran Petaling after their walk. There were treated to free breakfast and each walker was given a goodies bag on top of the umbrella and a pair of sunglasses.

Free health screening like blood sugar,blood pressure etc were also provided to the public.

Art class for kids in session at the bazaar area. Plenty of activities like lucky draw, quiz and stalls that spelled out F.U.N were in store for the walkers.

Check out the video below, featuring the Chicken Dance in the warm up session, the flag off and a short message from Datuk David Arumugam. :D

ENJOY!

To find out more about lupus and how to support PSLEM, please click HERE.

1 comment:

Chet said...

Nice shot of the participants and their umbrellas over the Dataran Petaling Jaya sign.